Read More

Birch gained huge popularity and a number of rave reviews for its daily, changing menu put together with produce grown in their field on the outskirts of the city.

Inside small neighbourhood restaurant Birch in Southville

Leach and Massey started out running pop-up supper clubs around the city before opening the permanent Raleigh Road restaurant in 2014, which has become a neighbourhood staple.

Although the news comes at a turbulent time for city’s restaurant scene, the pair insist putting Birch up for sale is not ‘Bristol’s restaurant bubble bursting’.

A message posted on the Birch Instagram page reads: “After nearly four busy years, we have realised that the business needs to choose between continuing to run the restaurant, or focussing on the growing and cider making, and the growing won. The restaurant is now on the market, available for sale, and we are hoping that the sale will take place this summer.

Read More

“We have had a brilliant time growing, cooking and serving food in our lovely little neighbourhood restaurant. It has introduced us to wonderful people, we have learnt a huge amount, worked with some of the finest cooks and waiters in Bristol, bought us a house, developed a market garden from scratch on poor soil, and nurtured a long held interest in cider into the small seed of a future business. None of this could have happened without the support of our customers, particularly our regulars and local customers, and we thank those of you who have spent money with us wholeheartedly.”

Birch, 47 Raleigh Road, Southville

They go onto say that the last year has brought about some unexpected “fantastic opportunities” including taking on more land to grow and taking on an orchard in Chew Magna.

They add: “This isn’t the bubble bursting on the Bristol Restaurant scene, the Bristol restaurant scene has never been in such health. We are leaving a profitable business and putting it up for sale to another operator, most likely an owner operator, who wants to buy a fully functional, well equipped and well maintained restaurant. Good accounts, fantastic staff, great location and probably the best lease of any Bristol restaurant. Do you fancy it?”

Read More

The post has been met with a mixture of sadness and well wishes from its multitude of fans around the city.

Sam Leach of Birch

They have not yet revealed exactly when the restaurant will close.

Bristol Post food critic Mark Taylor said: "The surprise news that Birch is up for sale after four years is a genuine body blow. Small, family-run and using produce grown by the owners themselves, it is the quintessence of the well-run neighbourhood restaurant and it defines the uncompromising independent spirit of Bristol’s food scene. I’ve had some truly memorable meals at Birch and Sam is one of the most intelligent and inquisitive chefs Bristol has seen.